Category Archives: Greatly Terrific Food Outing

Australia Food Guide, Greatly Terrific Food Outing

Greatly Terrific Food Outing: New Shanghai, Sydney

February 15, 2016 Talyssa 2 Comments

Drool-worthy dumplings? Yes please! Be transported to the colourful streets of Shanghai and while you’re there, let your tastebuds dance on ancient flavours for the ultimate Shanghainese experience.

Setting and Atmosphere

★★★★.5

Stepping inside New Shanghai is like stepping onto the streets of Old Shanghai and exploring the otherworldy charm of a back alley tucked away behind the bustling city streets. The setting is gorgeous and really a pleasure to dine in. It’s vibrant, it’s alive and it’s unique and while you’re there, experience first hand the art of traditional Shanghainese cuisine with a live dumpling-making theatre or simply enjoy the ambiance of such a beautiful setting with great company.

Food

★★★★.5

New Shanghai Pan Fried Pork Buns | $11.8

Pan fried pork bun – 8pcs $11.8 | Shallot, smoked ham and sesame puff – 6pcs $4.8 | Pork and Chive Dumplings Steamed – 10pcs $10.8

While the setting says “Old Shanghai” the food says “New Shanghai” as the restaurant puts their own modern take on traditional recipes passed down through the generations. And with good reason too – the food here is Měiwèi!! Everything tastes good and trust me when I say that once you’ve been dining here, you’ll be speaking Chinese too. As an avid fan of dumplings the ones here are up there with some of my faves. The pan fried dumplings are crispy on the outside with moist meat on the inside. The steamed dumplings are juicy and tender and finally the sesame puff’s pastry is flaky, crispy and melt-in-mouth perfection.

Though I have to say the highlights of the night for me were the Rainbow Beef with it’s gorgeous outer crunch and perfect chewy texture as well as the Braised Beef soup with it’s light and subtle flavours – a perfect contrast to wash down with the heavier dishes.

Service

★★★★.5

Wonderful prompt service and super friendly staff. Why then not a 5 star? Sometimes the service was a little too attentive that it felt a little rushed.

Pricing and Value for Money

★★★★

Really great prices, especially considering the quality and portion sizes of the dishes.

The Details

Where: Westfield Sydney, Shop 1017-1020, 188 Pitt Street, Sydney, NSW 2000

Opening Hours: Mon – Sun: 11am – 9:00pm

Website | Facebook

*Please note this was an invited event with the ever so lovely ningjaeats

Australia Food Guide, Greatly Terrific Food Outing

Greatly Terrific Food Outing: Passion Tree, Chatswood

February 1, 2016 Talyssa Leave a comment

Welcome to the sweet tooth’s haven that is Passion Tree cafe. If caramel popcorn waffles, honey bread, and hero dishes: pineapple, watermelon and melon bingsoo, sound like your cup of tea, then read on!

Setting and Atmosphere

★★★★

White, bright and with bursts of colour, you could call Passion Tree an Instagrammers haven. Oh and let’s not forget the suspended chairs hanging from the ceiling. While the decor compliments the food and crockery (which is delightfully brightly coloured against the white tabletops) the only question I had was “why the hawaiian flower decorations on the chairs?”

Food

★★★.5

Passion Tree Cafe — Rockmelon Bingsoo | $20

Not having the biggest sweet tooth in the world I have to say I enjoyed the deserts here. Let’s start with Passion Tree’s signature dessert “BingSoo.” The great thing about this dessert is that it’s light, fresh and full of summer. Another bonus is that if you’re not a sweet tooth like me it’s not overly sweet either. I only had the chance to try the rockmelon bingsoo (I’m not a huge fan of rockmelon) and it wasn’t my cup of tea, but I’d definitely be keen to try the watermelon and pineapple flavours since I liked the Oreo Bingsoo! If you have a major sweet tooth though, you might find the bingsoo’s a little bland.

Next the waffles. These were gorgeous, particularly the caramel popcorn flavour which I did not expect I would like. The waffles were crispy, light and the caramel popcorn topping was the perfect amount of sweetness without being overly rich.

Not being the hugest fan of honey bread, Passion Tree’s honey bread tastes as good as all the other ones I’ve tried. So if you’re a fan of honey bread, I’m sure you’d like these – particularly since them come in a wide variety of flavours!

Lastly my Oreo Passionccino was delicious and they were not stingy on the oreos! Amongst all the sweets, I couldn’t manage to finish it so if you’re planning on hitting the sweets hard you might want to settle with some tea to keep you palate balanced.

Service

★★★

The service was fast and quick, with dishes well presented. Staff are not overly friendly and leave you to yourselves which can be either a win or lose depending on your preferred dining experience.

Pricing and Value for Money

★★★ . 5

Overall the prices here are standard – $15 will get you a pretty big dessert to share and $20 will get you a whole watermelon bingsoo. Personally I die inside a little when I think about spending $20 on a dessert…but you are getting a whole watermelon and if you share with 5 people it sets you back $5 each!

The Details

Where: Chatswood Interchange, T67/436 Victoria Ave, Chatswood NSW 2067

Opening Hours: Mon – Sat: 11:30am – 10:30pm | Sun: 11:30 – 12am

Website | Facebook | Instagram

*Please note this was an invited event with the ever so lovely ningjaeats

Australia Food Guide, Greatly Terrific Food Outing

GTFO – Greatly Terrific Food Outing: Nook Urban Fresh Bar

January 24, 2016 Talyssa Leave a comment

Nook Urban Fresh Bar is an oasis bursting with colour, warmth, vibrance and life in the middle of an otherwise stoney CBD. Amongst the bustling traffic this cafe provides the perfect “nook” to escape from it all and rejuvenate with a hearty, organic feed.

Setting and Atmosphere

★★★★

Wow, this cafe is gorgeous! Everything comes together perfectly to create a farmhouse vibe that is cleverly contrasted with bright and colourful organic food displays. The natural woodwork compliments the aluminium and antique steel finishes that decorate the cafe. Everything about the atmosphere compliments the food and helps to created an overall wholesome and natural feel.

Food

★★★★.5

Nook Urban Fresh Bar — Sweeten Me Up | Lemon ricotta, honey caramelized fig and peach, smashed pistachio and fresh mint on organic fruit loaf

How best to describe the food at Nook Urban Fresh Bar? Natural, organic, fresh, homely, but on top of all that, indulgent. Every dish that hits the table is a piece of art, delicately constructed to look as good as it tastes. When my “Sweeten me Up” hit the table I knew that this would be the most beautiful breakfast dish I’d ever have. Another highlight of the breakfast was the chai tea latte. ninjaeats mentioned it was one of the best she’s ever had!

Service

★★★

The service here is your average order from the counter experience, so there’s not much involvement with the staff directly. Meals were a little slow to arrive to the table, however the place is very busy.

Pricing and Value for Money

★★★★.5

Great food at a great price. What more could you want?

The Details

Where: 4/83 Clarence Street, Sydney NSW 2000

Contact: (02) 9299 5050

Opening Hours: Mon – Fri 7PM – 4PM

Facebook | Instagram

Australia Food Guide, Greatly Terrific Food Outing

GTFO – Greatly Terrific Food Outing: Coffee Trad3rs

January 11, 2016 Talyssa 2 Comments

If these photos haven’t peaked your interest to try Trad3rs, I’m not sure what will! Located in Top Ryde, Trad3rs are all about giving their customers a positive experience from their coffee, to their food, to their friendly waitstaff, to that cheeky drink you’re craving.

Setting and Atmosphere

★★★.5

Inside, this cafe is somewhat mix-matched in its style. The table setting however – AMAZING!! A bright, beautiful posy of flowers compliments the vibrant blue crockery against a dark mahogany table top backdrop. With this set up combined with our food and drinks, the tabletop was a burst of colour that was absolutely divine to dine amongst! My experience at the table alone bumped my rating for this section from a 2.5 star to a 3.5 star.

With that being said, the rest of the cafe seems to be a mix of vibes with parts of it’s interior design being similar to the cafe vibe I experienced in a lot of Korean cafes with pinned up polaroids and trinkets, to a sort of steampunk/industrial theme with the light fittings and other features, to an IKEA vibe with the plant hangings throughout the cafe. I definitely think the strong point of this cafe’s setting was displayed in their table decor and maybe this cafe would come together a lot more with a stripped back theme that focused around a dark backdrop accented with bursts of bright colours through it’s crockery, food displays and floral elements.

Food

★★★

Trad3rs - Egg, Chicken Chorizo, Bacon & Sourdough Bread — Egg, Chicken Chorizo, Bacon & Sourdough Bread | $15.90

Trad3rs - Hawaiian Burger — Hawaiian Burger | $13.90

Trad3rs - Apple and Cinnamon Pancake — Apple and Cinnamon Pancake | $13.90

What you’ll get at Trad3rs is good, simple food. The taste is good, the presentation is good and overall you’ll leave feeling full and happy. And while everything is good, it’s just not special or signature which is why this cafe didn’t score in the higher star ratings. If you’re looking for somewhere to rejuvenate and satisfy your stomach after a hard day of shopping, Trad3rs is a great place to come for some casual eats and a little R+R before heading home.

Service

★★★★.5

The service at Trad3rs is really friendly and easy going, instantly making you feel at ease. It was great to see the staff throughout the day seeking out and talking to every customer individually to make sure everything was okay with their order and experience. Our orders were taken shortly upon arrival and food was promptly served.

Pricing and Value for Money

★★★.5

With food here being simple but good, I found that prices are around $2-$3 dearer than other cafes you might go to and receive an equally good or even better meal.

The Details

Where: Shop G3025A, Top Ryde Shopping Centre, 129 Blaxland Road, Ryde NSW 2112

Contact: info@theCoffeeTraders.com.au | +61 (02) 9808 3313

Opening Hours: Sun – Monday, 7:00am – 8:30pm.

Website | Facebook

Greatly Terrific Food Outing, Japan, Japan Food Guide

GTFO: Jiyugaoka Sweets Forest

January 2, 2016 Siree Leave a comment

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THE VERDICT

Setting & Atmosphere
Food
Service
Value for Money

OVERALL SUMMARY

Quality dessert to satisfy the sweetest of teeth

While exploring Jiyugaoka, a beautiful little neighbourhood in Tokyo known for its stylish shops and more importantly, sweets I found hidden to the south side of the station a place called Jiyugaoka Sweets Forest.

It’s a dessert-themed restaurant experience where Alice might have stumbled upon on her way to the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party – a dessert made forest wonderland!

Let’s explore the delights this rabbit hole leads to…

SETTING AND ATMOSPHERE

The interior is adorable with the pink cut out trees and cute picturesque shop fronts. As you can see, this forest is not just one restaurant but made of many individual patisserie shops offering their own signature dessert experience. Want something with strawberries? Look no further than the cute ‘Berry Berry’ shop. Maybe a fluffy soufflé? ‘Le Soufflé’ is where you can get your fix! There’s even have a Hong Kong style dessert house selling not only traditional Chinese desserts but also Yum Cha dumplings if you want some more savoury. Ah, I miss home~

While theme restaurant’s don’t always get the best rep as the food is more “style over substance,” each shop’s head patisserie chef is a professional in their field and the store’s creations are almost like their trademark so the desserts are not only pretty, but you feel like you are eating something that was well made and special! They even have seasonal rotations of their creations on display at the front of the store to admire their craftsmanship and hopefully get your hands on later.

In Japan, there is a term called 「旬/shun」which describes the moment of seasonal food at its peak. The term has a bit more meaning than simply saying “it’s in season” as it’s more like a celebration of the time the ingredient is at its most flavourful state during the harvest. Currently, strawberries are in season so I had to try Berry Berry’s creations which just so happens to be all strawberry based for December. Japan’s strawberries are the best!

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FOOD

Sweet and girly to the “G,” I went with Princess Tiara Roll and the Strawberry Mont Blanc with a basic black coffee for a set. Though the coffee wasn’t anything special to rave about the cakes were very nice indeed. Not too dry or overly sweet. The Mont Blanc had the special touch of a raspberry jam in the centre which was a nice touch to add some tartness.

Though I can’t comment on all the desserts available at Sweets Forest this time, I was pretty happy with the taste of these cakes at Berry Berry!

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SERVICE

At first, it was a bit disorienting to figure out the “system” if you will at Sweets Forest for a first timer.

It’s a theme restaurant but with no wait service except for Le Soufflé with “general” staff who are stationed at seating points to help bust tables (but in Japan, it is polite to also bust your own table as well) and also welcome you to space.

The seating areas are shared amongst the shops meaning that no matter who you order food from, you are still able to sit at any area with the exception of Le Soufflé.

The staff are friendly though and very prompt to help you if you need some guidance or to take the tray off you when in the bustling area. The experience is sort of a stylish cafeteria Starbucks vibe if you will.

VALUE FOR MONEY

Great value for money to sit down and enjoy a light snack. The desserts are really not too expensive and with no entry fee which is a norm for the themed restaurant sometimes.

THE DETAILS

Where: 2-25-7 Midorigaoka, Meguro, Tokyo 152-0034

Opening Hours: Mon – Sun: 10AM – 8PM

Australia Food Guide, Greatly Terrific Food Outing

GTFO – Greatly Terrific Food Outing: Lot.1 Sydney

December 14, 2015 Talyssa Leave a comment

My, my my, you guys are in for a treat! Swanky and sophisticated Lot.1 has unveiled the first of a three level establishment – a lush cafe – with soon to come, 2 underground bars and a restaurant. Boasting to be Sydney’s newest addiction, nothing says sophistication, affluence and opulence like a 3 level development and a capacity of 400 people!

Setting and Atmosphere

★★★★

Stepping inside Lot. 1, you can’t help but feel a little bit special. Maybe it’s the heritage sandstone, or the way the the liquor bottles stand illuminated against the back wall of the bar. Maybe it’s the friendly waitstaff, the charismatic chefs, or maybe, just maybe it’s the suspended timber spiral feature with purple backlighting. Yep, it’s definitely the timber spiral feature with purple backlighting.

The best thing about Lot. 1 is the space. Tables are well spread out, helping the dining experience to feel all that more private. Naturally, a sophisticated cafe, attracts a sophisticated bunch of people, and in saying sophisticated I don’t mean snobbish (Ivy), I mean well mannered and pleasant – definitely the kind you don’t mind sharing your dining space with.

Food

★★★★

La Gallina, Lot. 1 — La Gallina – Organic chicken, beans, dried tomatoes, puffed rice, lemon olive oil | $15

Panza - Lot. 1 — Panza – Heirloom tomatoes, crunchy bread, cucumber, bocconcini, basil | $12

Cassarecce - Lot.1 — Cassarecce – spicy pork cheek (guanciale) sugo | $15

Polenta Chips Lot. 1 — Polenta Chips | $5

Oh my gosh, I tasted flavours here that I never imagined existed. Let’s start with the hero and my favourite dish of the day, La Gallina. This glorified chicken salad was amazing, it was clever, well textured and one of those dishes where you combine everything together and suddenly, you believe in magic again, because that’s what the flavours taste like. Perfection on your tastebuds. If the whole review was based on this dish alone, I would have rated it 5 stars!

Second on my list of amazingness were the polenta chips! Now these were special – crispy, yet feather light on the palette. I haven’t tried anything more “moreish” in fact, I’m craving right now. And was it just me, or did I taste a subtle hint of truffle oil?

The Cassarecce tasted great, my only disappointment with this dish was in reading “pork cheek” on the menu. I was expecting large, tender chunks of pork intermingled with my pasta, but unfortunately we received small chewy pieces of meat. Not a big deal though, just not what I expected.

The Panza was simple in its taste. Whilst a good accompaniment to the other flavoursome dishes we ordered, for me this dish was a little lacklustre.

As with all good restaurants, tread carefully below – these deserts are irresistible!

Service

Rating: ★★★★★

The staff here were super friendly and made the whole experience well worth it. The food was prompt and the waitstaff took their time to explain the dishes to us and even recommend their favourites. The highlight of my experience at Lot. 1 was talking to chef Grant Croft. Besides being super friendly, it was great to talk to him about his inspiration behind my favourite dish of the day “La Gallina” and the different techniques he tried in order to create a perfectly balanced dish.

Pricing and Value for Money

Rating: ★★★★

Considering the sophisticated and indulgent vibes of Lot. 1, pricing is surprisingly reasonable. Yes portion sizes are on the small side where mains are concerned, but these dishes are created to share, tapas style. With 3 dishes plus a side serving of polenta chips between us, myself and @ningjaeats were full, leaving with two take away boxes between us!

The Details

Where: 18 – 20 York Street, Sydney, NSW 2000

Contact: info@lot1sydney.com.au

Website | Facebook | Instagram

Run by two travel and lifestyle bloggers, The Hidden Thimble focus’ on creating truthful and in-depth travel guides, food & beauty reviews. Enjoy drool-worthy photography from around the world!